Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza, a 39-year-old defender, was playing in a local match broadcasted on television between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca.
The game took place at the Coto Coto stadium in Chilca, located in the central region of Huancayo, when a sudden storm developed over the field.
Just after the game was called off around 4 p.m. local time, a powerful lightning bolt struck the pitch.
The Centers for Disease Control notes that the chances of being struck by lightning in any given year are less than one in a million in the United States.
While nearly 90 percent of people who are struck by lightning do survive, sadly, Jose was not among them. He was killed instantly when the bolt hit the field.
Officials suspect that a metal bracelet Jose was wearing at the time may have attracted the bolt, making the situation even more dangerous for him.
Cesar Ramos, the civil defense chief in the area, commented on the incident, saying: “It was like a magnet.”
Goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta was one of the injured players. After the lightning hit, he was quickly transported to the hospital with severe burns, as reported by The Telegraph.
According to PEOPLE, the state news agency Andina reported that Llacta’s condition had stabilized, though he remained under medical care.
Players and officials who were not directly struck by the lightning ran off the field immediately after the incident in shock and fear.
The match was ultimately canceled in response to the tragedy. Photos taken afterward showed burn marks on the grass near where the lightning had struck.
“This terrible incident reminds us of the importance of protection against lightning, especially in open-air events,” he expressed in his online post.
“We need to implement protective systems in sports installations and security protocols involving the immediate suspension of activities during storms.”
